This is the marks I got per criteria for the September Paper 1 Practice (Chevrolet Advertisement):

Criteria A (Understanding and Interpretation): 4

Criteria B (Analysis and Evaluation): 3

Criteria C (Focus and Organization): 4

Criteria D (Language): 4

Total: 15

Grade: 6

 

This is the marks I got per criteria for the November Paper 1 Practice (Journey of Water Science Article)

Criteria A (Understanding and Interpretation): 4

Criteria B (Analysis and Evaluation): 4

Criteria C (Focus and Organization): 4

Criteria D (Language): 4

Total: 16

Grade: 6

1. How might you embed evidence more efficiently to clearly connect techniques to themes/ideas?

In the moment I am first handing a paper 1, I need to focus on improving my annotating and brainstorm. I sometimes feel nervous when starting a paper and tend to organise and outline my plan very briefly. This causes me to use evidence that may not be the best as well as I can only unpack the effect of the evidence to the reader, rather than connect it to a greater theme or idea.

2. How might you identify more prominent techniques by the author & unpack these to connect to ideas & themes?

I want to revise the types of techniques used in non-literary techniques as I often forget the specific literary devices and this limits the type of evidence I chose and the techniques I use to unpack evidence. I want to be more confident with non-lit papers by practicing identifying techniques and learning more about their effect.

3. How might you further unpack text type conventions & the author’s use of narrative form?

To do this I need to continue to review aspects of non-lit text types as well as the effects of different forms of writing such as narrative writing. This perhaps would help me develop my understanding of greater ideas, themes.

Goal:

I have 3 very clear goals. My first goal is doing more paper 1s so that I can practice the initial stages of completing the paper to ensure that my brainstorming and annotating is more in depth and clear so that when I get to the point of writing I feel confident in my plan rather than feeling like I’m ‘going with the flow.’ My next goal is to pull out greater ideas or deeper figurative meanings very early on in my planning stage so that when I embed evidence it can clearly be connected to greater themes and ideas to provide the ‘so what.’ My last goal is to revise more techniques so that when I’m looking at a text I can easily identity the different devices used, so as to embed the more effective and well suited evidence for the point I am trying to make.

 

The two comments I received from Ms Wisemen to drive my thinking moving forward, in order to improve for my HL essay, was  about how I might provide further insight when unpacking evidence from the texts and how might I provide more discussions of ideas, themes and implications to avoid simple descriptions.

Both of these comments go very hand in hand, as providing further insight would entail a greater elaboration and discussion of ideas, themes and implications. I need to ensure that all my evidence is connected to a bigger idea or a sort of consensus in order to provide that further insight. Moving forward rather than just stating that the text shows this idea, I need to link the evidence directly to that idea being discussed. I want to try and avoid un useful adjectives and adverbs such as highlighting or emphasising because they often are followed with very basic descriptions that essentially say what the reader already knows.

I also want to make sure that my personal insight isn’t just the insight of the author. I have previously concluded with just explaining the greater ideas and insights the author is sharing, however I need to provide more about my own reaction to his insight, like my perspective on the ideas and messages the author is sharing. Furthermore, when I am working on my HL essay, I am going to double check, draft and re draft my essay and particularly my unpacking of evidence to ensure I have further insight and am commenting on the bigger idea rather than just the basic purpose and surface meaning of the text.

Line of Inquiry: To what extent has Photographer Alex Beck managed to accurately represent the Syrian refugee minority group?

Alex John Beck’s series of photographs entitled ‘The Stories Of Refugees, Captured By Their Phones’ is a collection of photos taken in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan in 2017. The photographs depict displaced Syrian refugees and images from their phones. Beck is a Dutch-American photographer, based in New York City. Becks work is very editorial, and advertising focused, working with big names such as Vogue US, Elle, Sephora and more. Therefore, this series is very atypical of his work. When creating the collection, Beck strived to give these refugees a chance to share their stories. He wanted them to be seen as individuals caught up in a greater political issue rather than as a single minority group. Although these images indeed invoke sadness and empathy in its viewers, the subsequent result of a photographer portraying individuals and their identities is that these individuals are limited to how Beck chooses to represent them. Which poses the question: To what extent has Photographer Alex Beck managed to accurately represent the Syrian refugee minority group?

 

The Syrian refugees have been marginalized so heavily by the media that they are viewed as powerless in their situation. It is clear that as a result of Beck’s work in the fashion and lifestyle industry, the media’s portrayal of the Syrian refugees is apparent in Becks photographs. This can be seen firstly through the lexical elements of numerous pictures in his collection. Photograph one is accompanied with the caption: ‘I heard my neighbourhood was destroyed. Nothing left.’ Photograph nine has the caption: ‘”I feel annoyed when I see [people] living in their country, and I have no country.’ The captions lack personalization of the individuals and instead presents the tragic yet typical feelings of the Syrian refugees. This mirrors the media’s representation of the minority group as powerless. Visual elements of the photographs also complement this idea; photo five and fourteen were taken at a high angle shot. The choice in angle means that Beck was standing over the refugees in the images, looking down onto them. A symbol of the refugees’ absence of power and lesser societal position than Beck’s. Beck is a representation of the media and the western world. Although he is not visible in the shot, his higher position when taking this photograph shows the refugees absence in all economic, political, cultural and social aspects of society. The composition of all the photographs in the collection, particularly Beck’s choice of diptychs, shows two segregated images. The image on the refugee’s phones show memories from back in Syria, and the second image is from the camps they live in now. The segregation of these two images is vital as the distance between them highlights the distance between the refugees and the regime in Syria. With distance being a factor in limiting these refugees power, the authorial choice to segregate these images helps exhibit this shortage of power. 

 

The media’s focus on the refugees have created stereotypes and caused these individuals to be seen as a single unwanted minority group. These stereotypes have shined through Beck’s collection and unintentionally represented them as a single minority group just as the media has done. In photographs one, three and seven the faces of the refugees are covered with a hand. The authorial choice to do so, brings about a hidden symbolic meaning, the faces hiding behind hands represent these people’s identities being masked as a result of the war in Syria. The impersonalness of covering the faces means that viewers cannot see the raw emotion of the refugees and shows them in an unrelatable light as viewers can’t put a face to the story. The individuals consequently are seen as part of a larger group rather than as real people. The lighting choice in multiple images, but most prominently the first image, further the same impersonal representation, the picture was taken in such a way that shadows from the sunlight reflect directly onto the refugee’s body. A shadow is created over the refugees body, making the refugee look like a silhouette. By making the refugees body look less like a person and more like an outline of one, we once again can see the surface level representation of the refugees, that lack emotion, hindering viewers abilities to see these refugees as people rather than what they read in the news. Lexical elements in photograph 3 encourage this idea, through the taped phone, which epitomizes the Syrian refugees’ inability to speak for themselves in the media. The combination of Beck’s authorial choices, symbolic meaning, lighting and visual elements have contributed to the collections resultant stereotyping and lack of personalness, once again mirroring the media’s representation of this minority group.

 

Beck has accurately represented the Syrian Refugee minority group through the lens of the crisis they are enduring, nonetheless representation of the individuals personal stories and identity is little to nothing. Beck’s photographs undoubtedly bring a greater understanding to viewers of the Syrian refugee crisis as a whole. The lexical elements of each photograph provide information into the individuals in the photographs, however these captions more tell the impacts of the war on them, rather than information and stories of the people. Photograph two’s caption reads: ‘I wish that my wife, my sons, my family, my brothers, my sisters could return home.’ And photograph six’s caption reads: ‘I hope I can get to [my brother] as soon as possible.’ Both captions show the impacts of war and displacement on these people, impacts that can be seen not only with the Syrian refugee crisis, but everywhere in the world facing conflict, war or danger. Photograph fourteen’s visual elements provide viewers insight into the living conditions of the refugee camps; the image shows doorless and roofless shacks. Although this raises awareness of the severe poverty these people are in, poverty is something the world and the media are familiar with. The woman in photograph eleven chose to show an image of her son, who got killed in a bombing. Tragedies such as that is a hardship faced by many people and are something frequently seen in the news. Unfortunately, in Beck’s decision to shine light on the tragic circumstances these people are in as a result of the war, he has unintentionally minimized these peoples individuality which furthers the surface-level view the rest of the world has placed on these people. 

 

The exhibition shines light on the refugee crisis and does provide a greater understanding of the impacts the civil war has had on its people. Nevertheless, when analyzing the extent to which Beck has accurately managed to represent this minority group, it is only fair to say his representation of them is limited to this crisis they are enduring, and not them as people. The media’s portrayal of the Syrian refugees is a stereotypical and surface-level one that highlights the refugees powerless, tragic situation as well as their alienation from the rest of society. Beck’s work in advertising and fashion industries can be significantly seen in the way he has chosen to represent these people, and possibly this factor is what has jeopardized his ability to portray these individuals accurately. Both the fashion and advertising industry create idealistic stereotypes that get enforced by society for the industry to sell their products. When looking at how Beck represents the Syrian refugees, it is clear that the media’s stereotypes of the minority group can be seen throughout his collection. The sterotypes create an impersonal representation of the minority group as a whole, rather than as individuals. However, it must be taken into account that the identities of people are obscured when caught in war, as the only representation the world sees of them is through the media’s coverage of the situation rather than of the individual people. People facing impacts of war get categorized into groups in which the media refers to them as. Perhaps, an accurate representation of people can never be accomplished during conflict, as the focus stays on the conflict and its impacts on the minority group. Even more so, maybe the representation of people can never be genuinely accurate as individuals are the only ones who can accurately share their identities and stories. 

 

 

• What do you consider are your prized possessions?

My prized possessions lean towards the more materialistic side. My phone is a prized possession as it contains a lot of photos, notes, memories and contact numbers. I think other prized possessions for me would be the more pricey things I own as they are more valuable. Like some bags and shoes and jewellery. I also have some letters and cards from people I also consider a prized possession.

• Who are the people you consider your family?

I consider my direct family, my family firstly. I also consider my closest friends and their family as an extended part of my family.

• What does “safe” look like to you?

Somewhere that I feel comfortable with myself as well as not in physical threat. Such as in my home, my friends homes, school etc. Essentially places that aren’t literally dangerous as well as where I personally feel comfortable being myself and expressing my ideas and opinions.

• What image represents all your longing, desire, desperation, and hope?

A photo of possibly of the people I care about?

How does Rawle create tension in this chapter? (Norma meeting Mr Hands)

Rawle has created tension in this chapter by using a combination of metaphors and dramatic irony and through the lexical and visual elements of the chapter in order to highlight the importance of this scene for Norma’s character evolution. Rawle describes Mr Hand’s home as ‘overcrowded’ and ‘filthy’, and Mr Hands as ‘a-fluster’ and in ‘distress.’ This description is clearly negative and hints to the results of the events to come. Rawle’s description of the situation Norma is in, provides the readers with the understanding that Norma misunderstood the kind of man Mr Hand’s is. Therefore the readers understand Norma is in a bad situation long before Norma does.  Norma’s narrative voice helps in showing that Norma is still unaware of the situation and further amplifies Norma’s character throughout the book as being naive and innocent. Following a remark from Mr Hands, Norma says to herself to she is going to maintain her ‘face of innocence,’ this use of dramatic irony shows her character to be very naive and unable to manage in situations such as this one and that she is still unaware of what real danger she is in. Later Norma says she is ‘fleetingly lost in the demanding role of being a woman.’ Norma, not actually a woman and just choosing to dress like one, makes this even more ironic because as a result of her innocence and sheltered life as she actually has no idea the difficulties of being a woman. This also hints to the situation after, which exposes her to one of the hardships of being a woman. Norma’s narrative voice and the use of irony therefore helped showcase Norma’s innocence by her lack of judgement, which builds tension for the readers aware of the danger of the situation. Finally the relationship between comedy and threat helps in-explicitly imply what is really happening in the situation – the uncertainty of this therefore creates tension. After Mr Hands makes an uncomfortable comment to Norma, Norma is described to ‘laugh with the ease of two children.’ This is reflected in the beginning scene of the novel, and the moment right before Norma dies. ‘The ease of two children’ implies Norma and Roy and therefore by referencing this, foreshadows that the situation Norma is in now will also not turn out well. Rawle’s use of metaphors such as  ‘Sausage meat’ and ‘rummaging through the merchandise as if he was in a bargain basement and everything was on sale,’ make descriptions of a situation thats threatening sound less by making them comedic. As a result, we as readers don’t fully understand what happened, and are only implied it, which therefore also builds tension in this scene.

 

 

What prompts Roy to admit that he must ‘give up’ Norma? Why does he find it so hard to do?

Roy gradually comes to terms with the fact he must ‘give up’ Norma. Mary has always wanted to get rid of Norma’s clothing since she passed away, and Roys alter ego that followed her death. Roy’s relationship with Mary prior to Roy’s realisation was improving greatly and part of his decision to ‘give up’ Norma has to do with Mary. His relationship with Eve and his job has showed Roy he can live a life after Norma, and Roy’s openness to this shows he is also ready to live that life . Finally his encounter with Mr Hands exposes him to the real world outside of his home, possibly prompting him to understand the consequences for cross dressing at the time. It is clear Roy struggles to let go of Norma because of the guilt he feels over her death.

Focus on the passage where Norma explains the relationship between her and Roy.In your own words, explain how Roy’s ‘alter-ego’ came to be, and why Mary has tolerated it. Roy has dressed as Norma for many years, of his own volition. Can you explain why this incident with the policemen is so traumatic ?

Roy and Norma’s relationship is brother and sister before the accident, following Norma’s death that relationship has internalised in Roy and essentially turned two people into one.  Roy’s alter ego came to be after Mary tries to clear out all of Norma’s belongings from the house and give them to charity. This clearly upsets Roy as he is unable to properly mourn his sister and cannot move on as an 8 year old going through the situation practically alone.  Mary possibly tolerates Norma because she has already lost her daughter and wants to protect her son because she loves him. The incident with the policemen is so traumatic to Roy because the situation forced him to admit that him and Norma are not the same. That Norma is his sister and passed away. Roy has struggled with PTSD after sisters death and is stuck in that moment by trying to relive Norma through himself. The policemen essentially forced him to come to terms with her death by saying it out loud. The policemen also was a trigger for Roy’s PTSD as policemen were the ones to tell him his sister was dead after the accident.

Graham Rawle has been criticised for revealing the true identity of Norma so explicitly at this point in the novel. Do you think he was right to do so?

I think that Graham Rawle was correct in revealing the true identity of Norma at this point in the novel. Until this point, there was only subtle hints to tell the readers that Norma was Roy, as he never explicitly says it, which shows the importance for Roy as a character to admit to it in this scene. It shows his character development throughout the novel and signifies an important moment for Roy – the moment he is finally able to let go of Norma.

If the police are representative of law, order and authority, what does their behaviour suggest about society’s attitudes to gender?

It is incredibly important to recognise the police’s awful behaviour towards Roy. The police are supposed to fight injustice and in this instance they do the opposite by harassing Roy. When even the police behave this way towards Roy is clearly shows societies narrow and backward thinking attitude at the time regarding gender. It demonstrates the societal belief that woman to be incapable and lesser to men, as the police harassed him for having women clothing and saying it was his.

Question: Discuss how the language features, both written and visual, aim to persuade readers of this advertisement to think and behave. 

The newspaper advertisement was published in 1996, and although the world today is not perfect, the way people think is a lot more progressive than back in the 90s. Making it important to highlight the gender inequality prevalent at the time. The written and visual elements of this advertisement demonstrate the societal norm of objectifying women in the past.

The ‘Passive Man’s Guide to Seduction’ is the title of the book being advertised, and the cover of the book is a man posing for the camera with a women draped over him. The titles use of the word ‘guide’ implies the advice given is factual, and the cover’s display of a man with a women all over him implying that this guide helped him seduce her. The combination of these two lexical and visual elements use pathos on men to make them believe that purchasing the book will help them win over a women. 

The motives of the newspaper when publishing this ad is also clear. The choice of topic in the book being advertised is very appealing to men and therefore will gain a lot of attention. The lexical elements like the bolded captions and capitalization and exclamation points also make it clear this ad was designed to gain attention as it is very eye popping. Visual elements such as the photographs of the women also make the ad more appealing, as showing beautiful, highly edited and dolled up women make a generalization of women that they are all like these perfect models.

Although women in this ad are being portrayed as visually appealing, the choice of language when describing these women are lesser. The ad describes women of the 90s as “the most aggressive woman ever.” This effect of this generalisation is causing men to view all women as ‘aggressive’ and forms a negative stereotype of women. This stereotype therefore helps sell the book, as it gives the idea that women are so difficult to attract that in order to have any luck you have to purchase the book. 

Although the purpose of this ad is to gain attention and sell the book, in doing so it objectifies women by using sex appeal and generalisations. The ad lures in an audience by the visuals of beautiful women and bold text. The ad then creates a motive in its readers head to purchase the book by intentionally describing all women of the 90s negatively and implying it’s almost impossible to win them over. As a result, this ad does both, making women believe they should live up to the beauty standards of those advertised, and further perpetuates society in the 90s view sexist view of women.

The global issue me and my partner Owen chose was: How can text represent societal values? Our first thesis strand was, ‘Graham Rawles Women’s World helps reveal societies sexist and shallow values in regards to womens identity.’ The first piece of evidence in the text was Roy saying, “women are the weaker sex.” This was put in Italics which throughout the text, Italics are used when stating facts. Which helps show the idea that not only does Roy and therefore society believe this as a generally accepted idea but as a fact. This cultural belief is shown throughout the book and helps answer our global issue of how can text represent societies values. Our second thesis strand was, ‘Graham Rawles Women’s World helps raise awareness to the difficulty poeople face when their actions conflict with societal values.’ This is also shown through the character of Roy, who throughout the book is dealing with the truama of his sister dying and feeling very responsible. To deal with this truama Roy chooses to dress up as Norma, pieces of evidence that hint to Roy’s internal struggle are when he says “A boy’s rough and tumble idea of fun jettisoned off course.” The use of the word idea shows that it may not actually be fun as well as using the phrase jettisoned off course helps foreshawdow that something clearly went wrong.  Roy also describes himself as Robin Hood and Rawle brings in a character called Mr Valentine, this comparsion of himself to Robin Hood (someone who did bad things but had a good heart) shows his belief he is a bad person on the outside, but bringing in the word Valentines associates Roy with the idea of love further emphasizing he loved his sister. The final thesis strand is ‘Graham Rawles Womens world helps the reader buld a picture of peoples struggle in the 1960s.’ This is supported by previous evidence describing women as less but also is supported by the words “THE BOY” and “HE.” Both these words are bolded and in capital made to stand out, this helps give off the idea that at this time there was no idea of being transgender, cross dressing or even being called by another pronoun. It is very distinct He or She and there is no in between. By making these words standout also helps foreshawdow whats going to come next. Rawles use of magazines help support all of our thesis strands because by being written from a womens perspective helps show these shallow views of a women and creates an identity based off of a surface level generic view of a women. The magazine also highlights important words, making them stand out to emphasize them, juxtapose them and create symbols. This is a very atypical text type for authors, however typical of Rawle. Overall I think by using magazines, he helps display society and its views explicitly to possibly point out societal flaws. However by making the ending open ended, also atypical for text types gives off the idea that maybe this is how people thought before but it is forever changing and its up to the readers to choose how it ends and how society will be.

Literary Text:

Context:

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. She was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was born into a prominent family with strong ties to its community. As a child she studied at Amherst Academy and briefly Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, before returning to her family’s home. Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation, she never married, and most friendships between her and others were through letters rather than face to face. She was thought to be very eccentric, and developed a strong liking for white clothing and later in life was known for her reluctance to leave her bedroom.

 

Text:

Point: The poet describes herself as a nobody, and then reaches out to reader’s who feeling the same as her by asking if they are also nobody.

Evidence: ‘I’m nobody! Who are you? Are you – nobody – too?’ Lines 1-2

Analysis: The first stanza reveals what Dickinson thinks of herself – that she is a nobody. Although being a nobody to most would be a negative thing,  her use of an exclamation mark reveals she is actually excited to be a nobody. However that can come into question when she is asking her readers if they are a nobody too. She longs to reach out to others who feel as she does. This first line is crucial in trying to understand the fighting sides of Dickinson’s identity – that although she wants to be isolated and viewed as nothing to the public, her isolation also makes her want to connect to those in the same position.

 

Point: In lines 3-4 Dickinson creates an us and them mindset with the readers, connecting herself to us as nobodies and referring to the public as they. Which also shows her feeling of isolation and difference from others and her want for a connection to someone feeling the same

Evidence: ‘Then there’s a pair of us! Don’t tell! They’d advertise – you know!’ Lines 3-4

Analysis: I think these lines further show Dickinson’s identity. She wants someone to read this and feel as she does by writing ‘Then there’s a pair of us!’ Her use of a exclamation mark again shows her excitement in finding someone who also identifies as a ‘nobody.’ When she writes ‘Don’t tell! They’d advertise – you know!’ shows that she was clearly afraid of being known to the world. Dickinson seemed to of enjoyed having no fame and no recognition, and feared that if someone found out that she was content being “nobody” they would advertise her and make into into “somebody” and she dreaded that.

 

Point: Line 5 shows the side of Dickinson that enjoys being alone and unknown the the public by insulting those who are known

Evidence: ‘How dreary –  to be –  somebody!’ Line 5

Analysis: The full poem shows Dickinson’s like to be a kind of mystery to the world as she positively describes herself as a nobody. She then insults people who are a ‘somebody.’ She explains exactly why she does not wish to be anybody, and that it would be “dreary-to be- Somebody”. She prefers to be left alone.

Point: Finally Dickinson describes the public as ‘a frog’ and telling her name

Evidence: ‘How public – like a frog – to tell one’s name – […]  – To an admiring bog!’ Line 6-8

Analysis: Dickinson strange comparison of a public person to a frog is possibly because frogs live out in the open, resting on lily pads in ponds, or because frogs are very loud and inflict attention on themselves. She believes that to live as a nobody is better than to live out in the open. So she compares frogs to people who live in the public eye – ‘a somebody.’ The last two lines of this poem reveal her distaste at  living her life to tell of her own name ‘to an admiring bog’.  A ‘bog’ is a place in which a frog lives. Which gives us insight into her comparison of a ‘somebody’ to a frog. Frogs croak constantly, telling its existence only to the bog. When frogs croak nothing happens and no one hears or cares, so this shows why Dickinson would prefer to be unknown. Because if she were to to tell of her existence to the public, just as a frog in a bog, no one would care or listen.

 

Overall Conclusion:

This poem shows Dickinson’s identity in a complicated way. The whole poem is about self-identity, however instead of Dickinson identifying who she is as a person, she describes herself as not even a person, and as a ‘nobody.’ She lived most of her life in isolation, and her writing only became really known after her death. The poem gives the idea she is scared of being somebody known and that if she became known, and went around advertising and telling her name to the public, no one would care or listen. I think the fear Dickinson had of becoming a known person reflected how she lived her life and consequently shaped her identity. The poem also reveals a struggle within herself as a result of her isolation, she seemed to be lonely, reaching out to a reader who may feel like a nobody too.

 

Non-Literary Text:

Context:

The photographer Alex John Beck, went on a project to document the Syrian refugee crisis and travelled to camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Instead of taking his own photos to communicate what was happening, he decided that using the refugees own phones would more powerfully communicate this message. The photo depicts a Syrian refugee standing in the sun with someone covering his face with their hands. Next to the image of the man is another image of his phone, which had captured videos of the crisis.

 

Text:

Point: The photos almost dehumanise the single refugees as individual people with individual stories, by covering the face of each refugee

Evidence: In almost all the photos in Beck’s exhibition, you cannot see the face of the refugee, as someone is covering it.

Analysis: By not being able to see the face of the individual in the photograph, it almost dehumanises him by making it impersonal. To the viewer of the photograph, we see just another person in Syria. Giving off the impression he is just one of the many others in that situation and creates a stereotype of the people in the Syrian crisis. I don’t think this was chosen to purposely not represent this man, however I think showing this mans face wasn’t regarded as important to Beck, as the conventions of his exhibition and this photo were to show the situation not the man. So unfortunately as a result this photograph disregards the refugees as individuals who all own their own narratives and identity.

 

Point: The videos captured on the refugees phones depicts moments from the crisis in Syria, limiting the man’s identity to just another person displaced as a result of the crisis.

Evidence: This specific photo in Beck’s Exhibition shows one image captured from the mans cellphone. The photo seems to be showing a large gathering of Syrian people who are possibly protesting.

Analysis: The image on the mans cellphone, I think is very limiting. Showing just one photograph cannot fully represent this mans identity. Even more so, having the photograph depict some event in the Syrian crisis makes it represent this mans identity even less, because the photograph shows something so impersonal to just this individual as so many Syrians are seeing and experiencing moments like this too. The conventions of the image on the mans cellphone, undoubtedly was chosen to further show the crisis in Syria. Beck did not choose this photo to show this mans identity, but to continue to communicate his message of whats happening to his audience. Without disregarding the fact that the Syrian civil war undoubtedly has had an impact on every individual there, and in some way has shaped their identities. I don’t think this means that this mans identity should be limited to just the issue in Syria.

 

Point: The caption of this photo inflicts sympathy on its viewers, and does help to show this mans identity, however only through the lens of the hardships he has experienced.

Evidence: The handwritten caption in the photograph reads: “I heard my neighbourhood was destroyed. Nothing left.”

Analysis: I think that the caption of this photograph can help the viewers understand more about this mans experience, however once again is only focusing on his identity through the lens of the Syrian crisis. I think that this caption, much like the other aspects of the photograph, is more for the artists representation of people suffering in Syria, rather than the actual identity of each and every Syrian refugee featured.

Overall Conclusion: 

I think that this photograph, and Beck’s entire exhibition more so communicated what was happening in Syria, to people on the outside, rather than telling the narratives of each and every individual. The photograph focuses on the impact of the crisis on each individual, and although does that splendidly, I don’t think that this can be said to be a full representation of identity. People are not only shaped by one thing, there identity is formed by more aspects such as their beliefs, morals, the people they meet as well as other life experiences.  So although the exhibition inflicts sympathy on the viewers for Syrian people, it represents them as only people in a horrible situation. Which makes the viewers see all these different people as one group.  Falling short in telling the full narrative and showcasing the true identity of the individuals.

Intertextuality:

The most distinct difference between Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘I’m Nobody! Who are you?’ and Alex John Beck’s photograph, is the chosen aspect of what shaped their identities. For Dickinson, a fear she had of being public caused her to live her life in isolation. For the refugee featured in Beck’s photographs, the incredibly difficult situation he was living through. Both help us more understand the identities of these individuals, however more so the poem, this is because I think when looking at someones identity, the best person to represent their identity is the person whose identity it is. As Dickinson’s identity can be shown through her own writing, we get a better insight into her thoughts, beliefs and even fears – aspects that are vital in shaping identity. Also because Dickinson’s poems were never meant to be public, she was more open in her writing as her writing’s audience was only her. Beck’s photograph is an attempted representation of this refugees identity. But is nothing more than a covered face, one photograph and a sentence of writing, all through the lens of one experience. This, as a result, gives more insight into how the situation in Syria is impacting Syrian’s, more than it does this mans identity. However, Beck’s photographs intent was not to represent this specific mans identity, but to show people on the outside how the Syrian refugees are impacted by the issue. So therefore, the audience isn’t getting a grasp of the refugees identity because that wasn’t the photographers intent.

What has changed? What has stayed the same?

• Since Grade 9, I think that I have changed and become more content with myself and calm. I feel more mature and less hyper and dramatic. I feel that I was viewed as quite a surface levelled person in Grade 9, and since then I have aged and gone through more experiences that change what I value and what to get out of life. I think what has stayed the same is that I am still very opinionated and outspoken in what I believe in.

  To what extent do identities change over time? Why?

I believe that identities are shaped from the experiences you go through and the people we meet and since we experiencing new things every day and continuing the meet new people our identities are ever changing. I think this is especially true in people my age as we are still in the process of forming who we become as an adult.

•  Do we have one fixed identity or multiple?

I think people can act a different way in different company however I wouldn’t say that how we act in different situations is who we should identify ourselves as. How we should identify ourselves as is our core values and beliefs and how we are as a person, something that may change over time but not change depending on the situation.

• To what extent does this text (Starburst Identity Chart) represent your full identity?

I think that this chart is very surface level in identifying me, as what is written are the first things to come to mind about me. Its not anything beyond that, that can tell you who I am and what I believe in.

• Can you suggest a text that can more completely capture your identity?

I think a collection of my own writing where I write about experiences and how I have grown from them,  about people and how they have changed me or what I believe in. These better capture my true identity as it dives deeper into who I am as a person, rather than aspects of me on a surface level.

• How do graphic elements in this text contrast to show multiple perspectives?

Aspects of this text that are very contrasting are especially noticeable in how I viewed myself and how others viewed me in Grade 9. I think as I was younger, aspects of me that I believed showed something positive about my identity were portrayed in a not so positive way.

In what ways can the loss and search for identity be represented in this text?

Over time you can clearly see my identity has changed for the better, which represents my search for my identity. However many of the aspects of me that I have lost since Grade 9 are negative, and things I wouldn’t say identify me.